Dakota Johnson knows how to make a fashion moment impossible to ignore. Around her latest Saturday Night Live (SNL) appearance, the actress posed for a sultry black-and-white shoot that looked like it had stepped straight out of an old-school Playboy-inspired fantasy. Bunny ears, black lingerie, opera gloves and thigh-high stockings? Check.
But there was one accessory fans couldn't stop talking about: the cigarette hanging from Johnson's lips. The cigarette was unlit, but that didn't stop viewers from asking why smoking was being presented as part of a glamorous, sexy look in 2026.
Dakota Johnson Goes Full Retro Bunny
SNL teased Johnson's return with a black-and-white post simply captioned 'Dakota Johnson!!!' followed by a bunny emoji. In the photos, Johnson poses on a stone rooftop ledge with an urban skyline behind her, fully leaning into the retro bunny aesthetic.
She wears a black strapless, high-cut bodysuit with black velvet opera-length gloves and oversized curved bunny ears. Lace-trimmed thigh-high stockings, smoky eye make-up and her dark fringe finish off the look.
Then there's the cigarette.
The unlit cigarette sits casually between her lips, giving the whole shoot an extra dose of vintage Hollywood and Playboy energy. The styling choice can make a photograph feel instantly more rebellious, but it also comes with a very different conversation today—and fans were ready to have it.
Dakota Johnson!!! 🐰 pic.twitter.com/iWGUq35ZwW
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) October 4, 2026
Fans Push Back on Smoking Glamour
Some viewers loved Johnson's look but couldn't get past the cigarette.
'I love it and her but why glamourise cigarette?!' one fan asked, while another bluntly pointed out that 'lung cancer is not really glamorous'. Others joked about whether old-school tobacco advertising had somehow made a comeback, with one person wondering if there was a secret 'Big Tobacco' influencer network behind the trend.
Another fan questioned whether Johnson actually smokes or was simply using the unlit cigarette as a throwback fashion prop.
The criticism also tapped into a broader shift in how smoking is viewed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies cigarette smoking as the leading risk factor for lung cancer and says smoking is linked to around 80% of lung cancer deaths in the US.
Still, plenty of people defended the styling. Some argued that the cigarette simply looks cool and, because it isn't lit, shouldn't be treated as an endorsement of smoking. One fan even joked that Johnson might be 'the only person in the world who is hot with a cigarette in her mouth'.
So, for some, it's retro fashion. For others, it's a very outdated message.
The cigarette adds nothing. Looks dumb. Makes no sense. Sends a bad message. Why?
— Ken Scott (@foomper) October 4, 2026
Cigarettes are so nasty though. Would've been more sexy if she was vaping, seriously.
— IngressLog (@IngressLog) October 4, 2026
I feel like the "cigarettes are hot" thing is like a thing from the 1970s. I sure don't think they're hot. They're so gross.
Return to Saturday Night Live
The photos came following Johnson's third time hosting SNL. She first hosted the show in 2015 before returning in 2024, making her latest appearance another reunion with the Studio 8H stage.
Her recent appearance came as she promoted Verity, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel. Johnson stars in the movie alongside Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett, which was released in cinemas on 2 October.
The episode also had a major surprise in store. Taylor Swift made an appearance during Johnson's opening monologue, with the two sharing a playful moment before Swift later returned during the goodnights with a birthday cake for Johnson.
